Everything Everywhere starts staff cull

But it's no traffic light party

Orange and T-Mobile have started softening up the staff who'll be facing synergisation, warning some they're for the chop while others are being told there's still hope.

Despite The Telegraphreporting that staff at Orange and T-Mobile had been gathered in groups for to be publicly told into which category they fell - with handy colour coding - we understand the actual process was rather less dramatic, with most staff being told in person or by letter.

Not that the process changes the reality that staff have now been told who's staying, who will be able to reapply for their existing job and who should be considering their future more carefully.

Around 1,200 staff are expected to be gone before Christmas, the majority of whom will be in the "consider the future" camp, though some of the "reapply" lot will get knocked out too. The staff got the news over the last week or so, as part of the (legally-mandated) 90-day "consultation" period.

It dosen't sound a lot like a consultation to us, but as neither Orange nor T-Mobile recognises employee unions there's not really anyone to consult with.

Grouping staff (with or without colours) might seem harsh, but it's better than having a (long) list of names called out in front of the whole company (as ITV Digital managed), or simply finding one's name absent for the new organisational chart (as practiced in banking circles). At least those who will survive the cull know where they stand - for the moment at least. ®